Diary of a Gay Bride is a memoir about an artist planning her multi-cultural gay wedding in hopes her dying mother will be able to attend.

The demands of WWII mobilization led to the creation of the first standing women's army in the US known as the Women's Army Corps (WAC). An unintended consequence of this was that the WAC provided queer women with an environment with which to explore their gender and sexuality while also giving them the cover of respectability and service that protected them from harsh societal repercussions. They could eschew family for their military careers. They could wear masculine clothing, exhibit a masculine demeanor, and engage in a homosocial environment without being seen as subversive to the American way of life. Quite the contrary: the outside world saw them as helping to protect their country. This paper looks at the life of one such queer soldier, Dorothee Gore. Dorothee's letters, journals, and memorabilia demonstrate that for many lesbians of her generation, service in the WACS during WWII was a time of relatively open camaraderie and acceptance by straight society.

A literatura, instrumento de representação e questionamento dos comportamentos sociais, tanto pode induzir a discussão de papéis de gênero e sociais, como sugerir a adoção de ideias e condutas. A representação da afetividade de personagens lésbicas, em sua relativamente recente e modesta emergência na história da literatura, recebe o peso das delimitações femininas em face de um cânone falogocêntrico. As características comportamentais impostas às subjetividades das mulheres, de tão largamente utilizadas, são naturalizadas nos e pelos discursos da cultura ocidental, tornando-se assim uma espécie de manual de regulação da performance amorosa. Tal normatização incide inclusive na representação de casais homoafetivos, o que muitas vezes reforça estereótipos num viés hierarquizante e heteronormativo de diferenciação e valoração sexista. Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho é, por meio da Crítica Literária Feminista e dos Estudos de Gênero, sobretudo com base nas obras de Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, Adrienne Rich e Monique Wittig, estabelecer a comparação entre as personagens das obras O Corpo, de Clarice Lispector (1974), Eu sou uma Lésbica, de Cassandra Rios (1982) e Azul é a Cor mais Quente, de Julie Maroh (2013), para analisar a representação da afetividade lésbica e a incidência da heteronormatividade nestas personagens em ascensão na literatura das últimas décadas do século XX e início do século XXI. Para isso se faz necessário considerar as diferenças entre os três gêneros literários do corpus (conto, romance e novela gráfica) e seus respectivos suportes que apontam para uma popularização deste tipo de protagonismo, bem como sua recepção pela crítica e pelo público. / The literature, instrument of representation and inquiry to social behaviors, can induce the discussion about gender and social roles and also suggest the adoption of ideas and attitudes. The representation of lesbian characters affectivity, in its relatively recent and modest occurance in the story of Literature, receives the importance of the feminine delimitations against the falogocentric canon. The behavioral characteristics imposed to the womens subjectivities are so widely applied that are also natural in the occidental culture speeches, becoming a kind of regulation guide of the loving performance. Such normativity still focuses on the representation of homoaffective relations, what many times reinforces stereotypes in a hierarchical and heteronormative tendency of sexist differentiation and valuation. So, the objective of this dissertation is to establish the differences among the characters from the texts O Corpo, by Clarice Lispector (1974), Eu sou uma Lésbica, by Cassandra Rios (1982) and Azul é a Cor mais Quente, by Julie Maroh (2013) to analyze the lesbian affectivity representation and the heteronormativity incidence in these rising characters in the literature of the last decades of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI century using as an theorical apparatus the Feminist Literary Criticism and the Genre Studies above all based on Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, Adrienne Rich and Monique Wittigs works,. For this, it is necessary to take into consideration the differences among the three literary genres from the corpus and their respective supports which indicate a popularization of this type of protagonism, as well as its reception by critics and the public.

Thesis advisor: Paul Poteat / Sexual minorities (e.g., lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals) are at higher risk for mental and physical health disparities than heterosexuals, and research has related some of these disparities to minority stressors such as institutional heterosexism, sexual prejudice, and discrimination. Yet, there is a dearth of research elucidating factors that predict the development of these health risks, and factors that protect and promote resiliency against them. Building on the minority stress model, the present study utilized relational cultural theory to situate sexual minority health disparities within a relational framework. Specifically, the study examined the mediating and moderating factors between the deleterious effects of distal stressors (i.e., heterosexist relational disconnections such as discrimination and victimization) and proximal stressors (i.e., self-disparaging relational images such as internalized homophobia, sexual orientation concealment) on mental and physical health for sexual minorities. Among 719 sexual minority adults, structural equation modeling analyses were used to test three models of: the relations between minority stressors and health; mediating effects of diminished agency, loneliness, and shame on the relations between minority stressors and health; and the moderated-mediation effects of growth-fostering relationships with peers, mentors, and community on the mediating pathways between minority stressors and health. Results indicated that heterosexist distal and proximal minority stressors predicted poor mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, and suicidality) and physical health (i.e., cardiovascular disease risk, distressing physical symptoms). The relations between proximal minority stressors and health were mediated by diminished sense of agency, loneliness, and shame, and there were mixed results for the relations between distal stressors and health. Although the direct effects of growth-fostering relationships were significant in predicting lower levels of diminished agency, loneliness, and shame, these factors had mixed moderating effects. Findings have research, practice, and policy implications that underscore the possible mechanisms by which sexual minority stressors lead to poor health. Researchers and practitioners need to addresses and advocate against societal forces contributing to heterosexist relational disconnections and for sexual minority health policies and research. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Thesis advisor: Stephanie Berzin / A growing body of evidence shows that sexual minority youth disproportionately suffer from poor mental health and substance abuse outcomes in comparison to their heterosexual peers. Parental support has been found to be a strong protective factor for these youth. There is a lack of research, however, that examines the role of non-parental adult support, such as natural mentors (e.g., teachers, grandparents, and coaches). Guided by minority stress and resiliency theories, the current study aims to deepen our understanding of whether natural mentors act as a resilience resource for sexual minority youth. The current study uses the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) restricted-use dataset. This is a large, nationally representative sample of both heterosexual (n=12,667) and sexual minority youth (n=1,413), ages 18 to 26. Variable-centered (i.e., multiple regression analysis with moderation) and person-centered (latent class analysis) statistical techniques were utilized to explore the effect of the presence and characteristics of natural mentoring relationships on a range of mental health and substance abuse outcomes. Results show that natural mentors have a similar relationship with health outcomes, regardless of sexual orientation. Perceived closeness is a critical characteristic of the mentoring relationship, exhibiting significant associations with depression, suicide ideation, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and binge drinking. Furthermore, those who have lifelong, close relationships with non-parental adult family members receive the most benefit. It is noteworthy that sexual minority youth are significantly less likely to have a permanent family mentor. Rather, they are more likely to have mentors from high school with whom they lack closeness as they transition into adulthood. Several suggestions for individual and school-based interventions to assist sexual minority youth in developing and maintaining long-term relationships with non-parental adult family members are discussed. The current study emphasizes the importance of supporting and advocating for greater policy change that will directly address minority stressors that sexual minority youth face. Findings from the current study make a significant contribution to the social work field by extending our knowledge regarding resiliency among sexual minority youth and offering concrete avenues for intervention. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

University of Macau / Faculty of Arts and Humanities. / Department of English

O objetivo desta pesquisa de doutorado é compreender os distintos significados do que é ser uma professora lésbica no ambiente escolar. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, e de perspectiva sociológica, que dialoga com estudos nacionais e internacionais já realizados sobre o tema, com base no debate sobre gênero, sexualidades e heteronormatividade. Foram entrevistadas seis professoras da rede pública (estadual ou municipal) de São Paulo, estando elas em atividade em três cidades: São Paulo, Diadema e Praia Grande. A partir de um roteiro semiestruturado, a pesquisa teve por objetivo compreender como essas docentes lidam com essa informação de suas vidas pessoais no ambiente escolar e quais seus principais obstáculos e medos. Os resultados da investigação mostram que, no lugar de uma invisibilidade suposta inicialmente, ganhou destaque a busca de uma visibilidade pedagógica, ou de uma tentativa consciente de construir uma possibilidade de existência legítima no ambiente escolar. Trata-se de um ser e estar na escola como docente que, por si só, traz uma aspiração e uma realização pedagógicas: a de construir uma visibilidade que garanta legitimidade para a existência lésbica. / The purpose of this doctoral research is to understand the different meanings of being a lesbian teacher in the school environment. It is a qualitative research and, of a sociological perspective, it dialogues with national and international studies already carried out on the subject, based on the debate on gender, sexualities and heteronormativity. Six public school teachers (state or municipal) from São Paulo were interviewed while they were teaching in three cities: São Paulo, Diadema and Praia Grande. From a semi-structured script, the research aimed to understand how these teachers deal with this information of their personal lives in the school environment and what your obstacles and fears would be. The results of the research show that, instead of an invisibility, initially supposed, the search for a pedagogical visibility, or a conscious attempt to construct a legitimate possibility of existence in the school environment, was highlighted. Wich means that being in a school as a teatcher, brings, itself, a pedagogical aspiration and a accomplishment: building a visibility that guarantees legitimacy for the lesbian existence.

In the art of drag, icons of masculinity and femininity are juxtaposed on one body, challenging heteronormativity. The goal of this project was to create a game that provided a safe space for players to negotiate their own identities of gender and sexuality through the framework provided by the game rules and affordances. The research behind this project challenges the criticisms of drag as purely gender representation, identifying drag as a signifier of the presence of the LGBTQ community. By iterating the design throughout the development process, I was able to create opportunities for players to reflect upon gender presentation and be in solidarity with one another. Conversations resulting from the play experience revealed the ability of games to provide a context for players to navigate complex understandings.

Ickeheterosexuella har en sämre hälsa än heterosexuella, framför allt en sämre psykisk hälsa. Rädsla för ett negativt bemötande kan leda till att dessa patienter undviker vård. Därmed påverkas också hälsan. När sjuksköterskan möter dessa patienter i sitt arbete är det därför viktigt att vårdrelationen utvecklas på ett så bra sätt som möjligt. En positiv vårdrelation är väsentlig för att patienten ska kunna uppnå hälsa. Syftet med studien är att beskriva ickeheterosexuella patienters upplevelser och erfarenheter av vårdpersonalens bemötande samt vårdpersonals/vårdstudenters attityder och känslor gentemot denna patientgrupp. Metoden är en litteraturöversikt med analys av både kvantitativ och kvalitativ forskning.Ickeheterosexuella patienter upplever att vårdpersonalen tar för givet att alla är heterosexuella vilket medför att patienterna känner sig utanför, annorlunda och att de inte passar in. De väljer om, när och hur de ska komma ut som ickeheterosexuella. Negativt bemötande förekommer men förväntningarna om ett negativt bemötande är större än ett faktiskt negativt bemötande. Vårdpersonalen har både positiva och negativa attityder/känslor gentemot ickeheterosexuella patienter. Dock skulle en tredjedel av vårdpersonalen avstå från att vårda en homosexuell om de hade möjlighet.Vården är heteronormativ vilket medför att ickeheterosexuella blir osynliggjorda och inte tagna på allvar. Sjuksköterskan måste verka för att bryta patienternas förväntningar om ett negativt bemötande. Ickeheterosexuella patienter skapar strategier för att garantera ett gott bemötande och tar därmed ett stort ansvar för att vårdrelationen ska bli positiv. Vårdpersonalens negativa inställning gentemot ickeheterosexuella kan bero på osäkerhet. Osäkerheten gör att de inte tar ansvar för vårdrelationen. Vårdpersonal behöver mer kunskap om ickeheterosexuella patienter för att kunna verka för en positiv vårdrelation och därmed underlätta för ickeheterosexuella patienter att uppnå hälsa. / <p>Program: Sjuksköterskeutbildning</p><p>Uppsatsnivå: C</p>

Rebellion and repudiation of the mainstream recur as motifs throughout Christopher Isherwood's novels and life, dating back to his early experience of the death of his father and continuing through to the end of his own life with his vituperative rant against the heterosexual majority. Threatened by the accepted, by the traditional, by the past, Isherwood and his characters escape to the margin, hoping to find there people who share alternative values and ways of living that might ultimately prove more meaningful and enlightened than those they leave behind in the mainstream. In so doing, they both discover that the margin is a complicated place that is more often menacing than redemptive. Consistently, Isherwood's fiction looks at margins and the impulse to flee from the mainstream in search of a marginal alternative. On the one hand, these alternative spaces are thought to be redemptive, thought to liberate and nourish. Isherwood reveals that they do neither. To explore this theme, the dissertation focuses on three novels, The Berlin Stories (The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin), A Meeting by the River, and A Single Man, because ach of these novels corresponds to marginal journeys of Isherwood--namely, his sexual and creative exile in Berlin from 1929 to 1933, his embrace of Hindu philosophy, and his life as a homosexual. Each of these novels positions characters outside of the mainstream in order to subvert a redemptive message and depict the margin as a very dark and dangerous place. Chapter 1 focuses on the period from 1929 to 1933 when Isherwood lived in Berlin and on the collection entitled The Berlin Stories, which includes The Last of Mr. Norris and Goodbye to Berlin. That fiction tells of the variegated landscape that was Weimar Berlin. In that landscape, Isherwood discovers and examines others who, like himself, seek alternatives to the mainstream: the bohemian Sally Bowles, the Landaurer family, who as Jews fear the rising Nazi tide, and the politically ambiguous Mr. Norris. His portraits of these people and the world they inhabit expose not only the darkest corners of mainstream Berlin, but also the futility of attempts to flee from the mainstream to more satisfying alternatives. Chapters 2 and 3 are devoted to Vedanta, one of the six schools of Hindu thought that would become central to Isherwood's life from July of 1939 until he died in 1986 and that is at the heart of Isherwood's final novel, A Meeting by the River (1967). In that work the margin and the mainstream are juxtaposed throughout. Rhetorically, the novel is rich and clearly one of Isherwood's finest. One approach to the novel emphasizes the redemptive power of the margin. The monastic life and all that it entails spiritually free one from the burdens of the material world. A compatible approach to the novel emphasizes the power of self-discovery as a bonding agent between the brothers. I argue for an alternative reading of the novel, one that emphasizes Patrick's journey and the implicit peril of the moral relativism endorsed by Vedanta. Patrick is nothing more than a con artist. And finally, Chapter 4 examines Isherwood's finest novel, A Single Man, the story of George, who is left alone after the death of his lover, Jim. Isherwood's homosexuality asserts itself both covertly and overtly throughout the novels, though today many of the positions reveal themselves as nascent attempts to understand sexual identity in personal, social, and political terms. A Single Man is Isherwood's most sophisticated and probing look at what it means to be a homosexual. The militantly political is ever present. And yet, the novel is in many ways a contemplative piece, one of stunning beauty that grows out of the simple fact that George's lover of many years has died. In reflecting on the cottage where they lived, George reminisces early on that "they loved it because you could only get to it by the bridge across the creek; the surrounding trees and the steep bushy cliff behind shut it in like a house in a forest clearing. `As good as being on our own island,' George said." In essence, George and Jim cut themselves off from the world. They live unto each other and in a community of like-minded people. Together on the margin, they are content and fulfilled. And yet, when Jim dies, George is abandoned and adrift. He is deprived of mainstream consolation--public memorials, spousal recognition, and children--and deserted; he is a sobering portrait of isolation and despair.